eBay launches sneaker authentication service to combat counterfeit sales
eBay is launching a brand new sneaker authentication service to confirm that footwear offered on the platform match what their listings declare. According to CNN, the service will begin the week of October twenty fifth and canopy the most well-liked sneaker types and types. But by early 2021 it is going to broaden to cowl all sneakers offered for over $100 on eBay within the US.
Collectible sneakers are huge enterprise. TechCrunch notes that some footwear are restricted to just some thousand and even dozens of pairs, which means common editions can promote for up to 1000’s and even tens of 1000’s of {dollars}. Unfortunately, this implies the market can be ripe for counterfeiting. In one incident from final yr, US Customs and Border Protection officers seized over 14,000 faux Nikes shipped from China to LA.
Although some firms have explored tech options to the issue, a bodily inspection is essentially the most dependable method to assure sneaker authenticity. TechCrunch says these inspections can come down to small particulars like counting the variety of stitches on a pair of footwear. More sneaker-focused marketplaces like StockX and GOAT already supply authentication companies, which has beforehand given them a bonus over eBay.
As with its previously-announced watch authentication service, eBay has partnered with a third-party firm, Sneaker Con, to authenticate gadgets. When a sale is made, the customer ships the sneakers to an “authentication facility” the place they’re inspected to be certain that they match the itemizing’s title, description, and pictures. If they go the inspection, an eBay tag is connected to them, they usually’re despatched on to the customer. The similar course of covers returns, to cease unscrupulous consumers from making an attempt to return faux sneakers to legit sellers.
The indisputable fact that eBay hasn’t provided a sneaker authentication service till now hasn’t stopped these kinds of footwear from turning into a well-liked merchandise to promote on the platform, and eBay says it offered almost 6 million pairs of sneakers final yr. With its new authenticity assure, although, mixed with no vendor charges for sneakers offered for over $100, the corporate clearly hopes to appeal to extra sneakerheads to the platform.